The IT industry is dynamic. Companies are constantly seeking a competitive edge–and that starts with hiring the best educated, most highly trained and proven employees. It can be difficult to differentiate yourself from the crowd.

Unless you have achieved Red Hat Certification.

Red Hat certification allows IT professionals to affirm that they have the skills and knowledge needed to succeed. After all, employers seek only the best of the best.

If you are an IT professional or a student who aspires to join the ranks of IT professional, you might want to consider Red Hat certification.

Here’s a look at why the certification is valuable and what you need to do to achieve it:

Employers want Red Hat certified IT professionals.

Companies around the world need IT professionals who can innovate, execute, and keep up with the pace of innovation, which has never been faster.

Unfortunately, a resume doesn’t always tell the entire story. That’s why employers turn to Red Hat’s database of certified IT professionals. Companies know that people with Red Hat certification have the practical knowledge and skills to succeed–and they hire them.

It’s not a one-size-fits-all certification.

One of the things that elevates Red Hat certification above the others is the breadth of expertise areas IT professionals can specialize. There are more than 30 certifications available, ranging from server hardening to high availability clustering to system administration to the cloud.

Whether you are an administrator, engineer, architect, developer, or application administrator, you are likely to find a certification that fits your interests and expertise–and appeals to your current or future employer.

Certification sends a powerful message.

An exceptional education, experience and a track record of success are all important elements when it comes to landing your next IT job. But in all honesty, you’ll likely be going up against a lot of applicants that have those same attributes.

Earning Red Hat certification is a great way to stand out from the crowd.

Because achieving certification requires you to demonstrate tangible knowledge and skills on an experiential- and lab-based exam, you’ll be demonstrating that you have the skills, knowledge and abilities required to do the job–and do the job right.

The exam isn’t about simply answering a series of questions. It’s about proving yourself against a rigorous and well-respected test that simulates real-world challenges. It’s a challenge only the best of the best are typically willing to take on and overcome. And it impresses employers.

There might not be a more important certification.

The IT profession offers a plethora of certifications, but only a few are considered the gold standards. These are certifications perceived to have more value, and Red Hat certification is one that is certainly considered to be among the best.

It is consistently listed among the most well-respected and important certifications by industry publications (such as IT Business Edge) and well-sourced industry bloggers (such as Ed Tittel of VM Turbo).

In fact, IT Business Edge calls Red Hat certification “one of the most prominent Linux certification programs, if not the most prominent.”

The publication likes the fact that Red Hat is performance-based. You will actually have to perform specific tasks on a live system.

It’s achievable.

Each year, many people make the decision to differentiate themselves from other IT professionals by achieving Red Hat certification. Some fail, but those who put in the time and effort it takes to prepare succeed and go on to reap the respect and reward.

While it does take focus and determination to achieve certification, it is achievable–because the exam is entirely practical. It’s not designed to trick you or make you question your skills and knowledge. In fact, it’s designed for you to show off your talents.

The same principles that apply to success in other exams apply to the Red Hat–practice, practice and practice some more; keep your eye on the clock; leave time at the end to check your work; be confident.

If you do these things–and use the skills and knowledge you’ve developed in school–you can join the ranks of the IT professionals considered to be among the best of the best.

DISCLAIMER – ECPI University makes no claim, warranty, or guarantee as to actual employability or earning potential to current, past or future students or graduates of any educational program we offer. The ECPI University website is published for informational purposes only. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information contained on the ECPI.edu domain; however, no warranty of accuracy is made. No contractual rights, either expressed or implied, are created by its content.

For any education, exams play a major role in determining your future in a career. Students often dread class tests, certification exams, and exit exams. While studying for these exams, you may often find yourself overwhelmed by the large amount of information you must learn. Perhaps it seems like too much to retain before exam time. But with a few tricks, your studying sessions can become more effective and result in better memory retention when it comes time to ace your professional certifications.

Block Distractions

The brain does not create long-term memories as well when the amount of time devoted to a subject is broken up. Distractions not only draw time to a different task, but also make you spend more time refocusing on the original task once the distraction is gone. Since attention is limited, you must minimize distractions in order to best retain information during study sessions. Instead of checking Facebook and Twitter every five minutes, get an app like Concentrate that blocks any site you choose for a specific amount of time, which can be anywhere from a few minutes to several days.

Use the Pomodoro Method

While focusing is important, the brain also should not be forced to concentrate on one task for too long. The Pomodoro Method consists of 25-minute spurts of productivity, followed by 5-minute breaks. After four sessions, you take a longer 15-minute break. Apps on your phone or browser are perfect for this method, or a simple timer on your phone works just as well.

Draw It Out and Talk It Out

Drawing (or writing) is far more effective than typing for memory. Rewrite your notes by hand to produce the best memory retention. In addition, saying what you are writing increases the effect. Talking it out produces what is called a production effect, which means that a unique connection is made with that information by saying it out loud. If you need to learn a difficult process, draw it while talking for the most effective study session.

Repeat, Repeat, Repeat

By using what is called spaced repetition, you are more likely to remember a piece of information for longer. By learning something, setting it aside, and coming back to it in an hour or a day and “learning” it again, you solidify that as a memory. As you learn it more effectively, increase the amounts of time in order to deepen the memory.

Use Multiple Resources

Don’t just use a study book or textbook for your exam preparation. Find another resource, like a website, YouTube video, or a person. Using a different resource allows you to hear the information explained in a different manner, as well as helps you repeat the information again, increasing memory retention.

Teach It

When you feel that you have a grasp on the material, teach it to somebody who is struggling with it. This provides a few different tactics in order to give you and the other student increased memory retention. First, this implements talking it out by explaining the information out loud, and second, the other person’s questions prompt you to think more deeply about the information yourself, and even to research answers to questions you might not have thought of had you been studying by yourself.

Take a Break

Sometimes when information simply isn’t making sense, you need to set it aside and do something else to give your mind a break. Study another subject or rest altogether by going for a walk, watching an episode of a television show, or cooking dinner. After your break, you can return to the lesson refreshed, and you are more likely to understand the information and remember it.

Ace Your Professional Certifications at ECPI University

While exams are stressful, you can alleviate much of your stress by being confident in your study skills. By following these tips, your memory retention improves, your confidence increases, and you pass your exams. Of course, these are not the only things you can do to increase the productivity of your study sessions. Find what works for you, and you will be well on your way to passing your exams or obtaining your certifications.

As you progress through your studies, consider obtaining your certifications from our Professional certification center. Take our credentials and stand out from the crowd.

DISCLAIMER – ECPI University makes no claim, warranty, or guarantee as to actual employability or earning potential to current, past or future students or graduates of any educational program we offer. The ECPI University website is published for informational purposes only. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information contained on the ECPI.edu domain; however, no warranty of accuracy is made. No contractual rights, either expressed or implied, are created by its content.

]]>http://professionaldevelopment.ecpi.edu/blog/studying-for-the-big-exam-tips-to-improve-your-memory/feed/1Can I Make More Money with an IT Certification?http://professionaldevelopment.ecpi.edu/blog/can-i-make-more-money-with-an-it-certification/
http://professionaldevelopment.ecpi.edu/blog/can-i-make-more-money-with-an-it-certification/#respondThu, 28 Apr 2016 12:32:59 +0000http://professionaldevelopment.ecpi.edu/?p=4252

You navigated through undergraduate school, and are working diligently in a technology company in hopes of rising in the ranks. You are doing…okay…financially, but you are also seeking more responsibility at work knowing more job responsibility usually means increased income. A fast path to a stronger financial future is through Information Technology (IT) certifications. In a relatively short time, you could attend school while working, get certified in targeted and highly marketable skills, and rise in your career.

Stats, Stat!

The National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) reports that, for 2012 (the most recently available date), of the nearly four million credentials awarded, sub-baccalaureate credentials among all U.S. institutions numbered 2,010,835, with nearly a million of those coming from less-than-one-year certificates and another half million from certificates requiring a year or more. Compare this with the number of bachelor’s degrees awarded: 1,792,163. Certificates have clearly overtaken traditional undergraduate degrees.

More certifications do not automatically translate into more income. Yet the growth of IT jobs in general seems to indicate that certificate holders realize the fastest route to higher pay is with intensive, focused certificates. And you need not take our word for it; the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) published a report aptly entitled, “Certificates: A Fast Track to Careers.”

The BLS found that about 28,000 certificates went to computer and information sciences in 2010-2011. More, the BLS noted that people with IT certifications often were not working in their field (essentially letting the certifications go to waste), so the field was ripe for those who did use their IT certificates in their field. To quote the BLS,

“Computer and information services had the smallest proportion of certificate holders working in their field, but those workers enjoyed the best payoff for doing so: They earned 115 percent more than those who did not.”

Why Get Certified?

Ferreting out the financial gains of having IT certifications may not require the macroscopic view the BLS offers. CompTIA, a non-profit trade group for IT professionals and IT channel businesses, reported in February, 2016 that a dismal nine percent of IT hiring managers did not see any gap between IT skills their company needed and the IT skills new employees have. This means a truly alarming 91 percent of new hires did not have the skills needed. A quick answer to this skills gap is IT certification. Areas most needing skills improvement, says CompTia, were:

IT Support

Information Security

Programming, Development and Engineering

Software Testing and Quality Assurance

Imagine you and another candidate are nervously sitting in a job interview with one of those IT managers who see 91 percent of candidates as unprepared for the jobs available. You both hold undergraduate degrees in software development, let’s say. You, though, also hold an IT certification in network virtualization, storage management, and ethical hacking. While your competitor is sweating it out, you sit coolly aware that you have a competitive edge.

Other reasons to pursue certification:

Your professional distinction as a professional in your field

Bolstering your career options

Deepening your education in your field in minimal time and low cost

Specializing in a specific aspect of your field (similar to a concentration or minor)

Top IT Certifications

Knowing IT certifications give you a head start on other job candidates, and reading that the BLS cites IT certifications as offering the best payoffs, which IT certifications should you consider? Take a typical listing from a superior program:

Windows Network Engineer 2012

Network Virtualization, Storage Management, and Ethical Hacking

Manufacturing Technician Training

ETA Fiber Optics

CompTIA A+, Net+, Security+ Program

Cisco Certified Network Professional

Cisco Certified Network Associate

The BLS views the network engineer as a “Computer Network Architect. The BLS says the median annual income for May, 2014 was $98,430. This is against the average of all occupations, $35,540, for the same period.

Schedule Your IT Certification

ECPI University’s Professional Development Center can provide you the fast, trustworthy certification you are seeking. Concentrating on a very narrow subject at great depth, these offerings provide you a small number of courses administered on a schedule convenient to full-time employment. Enroll in one of our IT certification courses and get on the path to working at a higher level, for higher pay. Contact ECPI University’s Professional Development Center today to learn more.

DISCLAIMER – ECPI University makes no claim, warranty, or guarantee as to actual employability or earning potential to current, past or future students or graduates of any educational program we offer. The ECPI University website is published for informational purposes only. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information contained on the ECPI.edu domain; however, no warranty of accuracy is made. No contractual rights, either expressed or implied, are created by its content.

Odds are, your data was hacked in 2015. Your medical records, address, financial documents, and probably your social security number were illegally accessed by hackers looking for easy financial gain by taking advantage of security gaps in the information systems we all rely on to do – well – pretty much everything.

Information systems are the world’s newest battlegrounds, and the war being waged in the virtual universe is no laughing matter. Hackers are pros, with the skill and innovation to circumvent security measures and exploit vulnerabilities. How many times have you heard about massive information leaks this year? How many people in your life have been personally affected by identity theft, stolen credit card information, or compromised personal or medical information? This is war with serious civilian and economic casualties, and businesses are working nonstop to protect their sensitive data and information networks from a smart, motivated, and unethical group of online supervillains.

Fortunately, there are good guys in this battle. White-hat hackers, sometimes called white hatters, are professionals with the same skill and technique as the thieves storming our information systems. The difference? They’re armed, along with training and serious know-how, with the ethics to fight back.

Training as a White Hatter

There’s nothing amateur about the skill and training required to work as a white hatter. Businesses are increasingly desperate for knowledgeable professionals who can help them to identify vulnerabilities and prevent the types of information leaks that make headlines every day. As a result, industry standards have become increasingly stringent, which means that white hats are now, more than ever, professionally recognized as leaders on the front lines of the information systems battlefield.

The Certified Ethical Hacker certification is a professional credential obtained through the International Council of Electronic Commerce Consultants. It’s the gateway certification to fighting the good fight on the world’s massive information systems, and it requires a serious course of training. Technology is an ever-changing animal, so the CEH certification changes with it.

Obtaining a CEH certification means that you’re up-to-date on the latest in hacking, including:

Footprinting and Reconnaissance: Intelligence-gathering techniques hackers use to learn about the networks they target and the devices on those networks. White hatters can attack those same networks, with the goal of discovering vulnerabilities before they’re discovered by the enemy.

Social engineering: Social engineering is your grandmother’s worst nightmare, and it’s a potent weapon for hackers interested in preying on the weak. Manipulating people to gain information may sound like a Cold War tactic, but it’s very much alive. Skilled white hatters root out social engineering and protect the weak.

Web servers: If you’re a crook looking to steal piles of data from a business, this is your goldmine. Those businesses need white hatters to secure against vulnerabilities with constant testing.

Wireless networks: Think your wireless network is secure? So do the countless victims of identity thefts. Learn to build a bulletproof network and shield users from spying eyes.

Enumeration and Cryptography: Enumeration is the process of actively connecting to a network and directing queries to that network to learn more. White hatters learn to recognize and fight off this stage of the attack.

If you already work in information systems, chances are you’ve had some exposure to the need for white hatters, and it probably wasn’t pretty. Businesses usually learn the hard way that fighting back after an attack means it’s too late – the enemy has already cut and run, and you’re left with empty pockets, hurt clients, or both. Preemptive strikes and defensive systems are what secure modern businesses today. If you’re a business owner or IT manager looking to step up your defenses, you need qualified personnel with an updated skill set. If you’re an employee in need of a skill refresh or you’re interested in taking your credentials to the next level, CEH may be for you.

Get Certified to be an Ethical Hacker

If white-hat hacking sounds like an exciting way to channel your skills and knowledge into a career as a virtual superhero, then an ethical hacking certification may be for you. Contact ECPI University today, and let’s talk about how our professional development courses can drive your career to the next level.

DISCLAIMER – ECPI University makes no claim, warranty, or guarantee as to actual employability or earning potential to current, past or future students or graduates of any educational program we offer. The ECPI University website is published for informational purposes only. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information contained on the ECPI.edu domain; however, no warranty of accuracy is made. No contractual rights, either expressed or implied, are created by its content.

The pharmacy technician plays a vitally important role in keeping a modern pharmacy running properly. Nowadays, medications are not so often mixed in the pharmacy itself but are rather shipped directly from drug manufacturers. This change in the pharmacy industry has pushed actual pharmacists more into clinical work while creating the role of the pharmacy technician.

Becoming a pharmacy technician does not require as much training as full-fledged pharmacists, but they are fully equipped to keep track of medications and pull up the medication that is appropriate to a given prescription. Nevertheless, a pharmacy technician always works under a pharmacist’s supervision and typically needs a pharmacist to sign off on his or her work. He or she will also generally need to have at least a high school diploma and have acquired pharmacy tech certification by passing an exam.

In order to handle their everyday job tasks, it is highly important for pharmacy technicians to be accurate, observant, and detail-oriented. Pharmacy technicians are responsible for providing medications to patients, a life-and-death matter for those with serious medical conditions.

The work environment of a pharmacy technician

Pharmacy technicians work at any facilities where medications need to be dispensed. They are found in community pharmacies like those located in grocery stores and retail pharmacy establishments. They are also found in hospital pharmacies.

The majority of all pharmacy technicians are found in either a community or hospital pharmacy. However, some pharmacy technicians work in pharmaceutical production for drug manufacturers. Less frequently, pharmacy technicians may find work in prisons, at veterinary offices, or in the military.

Everyday job tasks for a pharmacy technicians could vary significantly depending on where the technician works. Pharmacy technicians working in community pharmacies will have more of a customer service role in carrying out their everyday tasks because they will have to communicate and perform transactions with customers. On the other hand, pharmacy technicians working at hospital pharmacies or pharmaceutical production may not have to deal directly with the patients taking the medications they handle. They are also less likely to have to perform transactions at a cash register for the purchase of prescribed medications.

The main responsibilities of a pharmacy technician

Pharmacy technicians are responsible for a wide variety of tasks around the pharmacy. Broadly speaking, the tasks for which they are responsible can be broken down into the following five categories:

Clerical work

A pharmacy technician will typically be responsible for working with patient/customer records and pulling up each patient’s record when he or she comes in to have a prescription filled. This type of work will usually require the pharmacy technician to have a basic familiarity with computers. The technician will also need to organize the pharmacy’s inventory and answer phones calls from customers and/or doctors.

Pharmacy management

Pharmacy technicians may have cashiers and assistants working under them who they will be required to supervise. They will also need to manage pharmacy supplies and keep areas like dispensaries in order.

Handling medications

Of course, handling medications is a big part of the pharmacy technician’s job role. Technicians will need to be able to match up a prescription written by a doctor with the appropriate medication in the pharmacy’s inventory. As such, technicians should know both generic names and brand names of medications carried by the pharmacy for which they work. Pharmacy technicians will frequently be responsible for measuring out the right quantity of a medication to give to a patient to fill a prescription.

Communicating with other healthcare workers

Pharmacy technicians who work in hospitals will need to communicate with other healthcare personnel as part of their job on a daily basis. They will need to communicate with doctors about prescriptions and may need to contact physicians to authorize refills. Pharmacy technicians may also need to work with nurses to ensure that a patient is getting the necessary medication in a hospital setting. Pharmacy technicians working in community pharmacists will also need to communicate with doctors if they have a question about a particular patient or prescription.

Customer service

The customer service role of a pharmacy technicians is an especially important part of the job role of a technician working at a retail establishment. Pharmacy technicians may need to communicate with patients about their prescription history and enter information into the patient’s records. They also will need to inform customers regarding pharmacy policy and arrange for customers to speak directly with a pharmacist if desired. Technicians working in a retail pharmacy establishment may need to conduct transactions with customers.

Aspiring pharmacy technicians can acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to perform these job tasks through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Program at East Coast Polytechnic Institute. Those interested in learning more can visit the school’s website for information.

DISCLAIMER – ECPI University makes no claim, warranty, or guarantee as to actual employability or earning potential to current, past or future students or graduates of any educational program we offer. The ECPI University website is published for informational purposes only. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information contained on the ECPI.edu domain; however, no warranty of accuracy is made. No contractual rights, either expressed or implied, are created by its content.

Over the past decade, American manufacturing has started to experience a renaissance. Major companies like GE (General Electric) have started to invest in bringing manufacturing back to the U.S. from overseas. The capital investment to reopen closed manufacturing plants doesn’t do any good without skilled workers to man those factories. An MSSC Certified Production Technician (CPT) should have all the skills needed to work on the factory floor, monitoring equipment and seeing products take form. By mastering the four elements of certification, you could be a part of the next industrial revolution.

1. Safety

Working with complex manufacturing machinery starts with safety protocols. Machines often operate at very high temperatures or using corrosive substances. As products feed from the beginning of the production line to the end, workers need to know how to safely interact with the line to clear clogs and ensure quality control. While every plant will have specific safety regulations in place for their line, MSSC certification includes an overview of the safety protocols required by OSHA and needed to work on the line with minimal risk of injury.

2. Quality Practices and Measurement

One of the major factors encouraging domestic manufacturing is in the availability of advanced manufacturing technology and increasingly accurate analytics. Today’s plant workers can help track incremental process improvements, ultimately reducing the time to manufacture a specific product. Faster manufacturing at the same quality level helps offset the higher cost of labor required in the United States. For example, fabricators and assemblers for aircraft systems earned a median annual salary of $48,340 in 2104, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Quality control is another important aspect of manufacturing plant work. Ensuring every product off the line meets minimum quality standards helps prevent potential problems at the consumer end. A poorly wired stove is a fire risk and a recall can cost companies millions. For example, the Toyota brake issue resulted in massive recalls in 2014. In fact, the Toyota brake recall affected 1.7 million vehicles worldwide and impacted other brands using the same parts. Learning effective quality control standards helps minimize the risks to consumers when products leave the factory floor.

3. Manufacturing Processes and Production

Part of the GE factory re-tooling involved breaking down the silos between development and production. The workers on the factory floor communicate directly with those who develop the processes and products that later go into production. This streamlined approach to communicating means factory workers need to have a more in-depth understanding of how the production process works. The more you know about processes and production, the more you can be on the lookout for opportunities for improvement.

Even small process improvements have the potential to realize massive gains by the end of the year. For example, a factory that produces refrigerators might have a production time of nine hours per unit and a total production capacity of 4,000 units per month. That works out to about 6 units completed per hour.

If you can cut that time per unit by five minutes, the company can produce an extra 440 units per year at no increased labor cost.

4. Maintenance Awareness

As factories become more complex and rely more heavily on industrial machinery during the assembly process, maintenance takes center stage. A single outage on the line can bring production to a screeching halt or produce substandard products. When a factory losses a single day of production, that results in thousands of lost units and missed shipping deadlines. A regular schedule of maintenance and learning how to look for potential problems can help reduce the risk of an unplanned shutdown. A planned shutdown allows for after-hours repairs, avoiding unnecessary expenses.

Earn Your CPT Certification to Join the Maker Movement

Mastering the four areas required for MSSC certification may give you the skills you need to be part of the manufacturing process. You could work on anything from airplanes to electronic equipment. Micro-manufacturing is also on the rise, with local companies sending out limited run orders and creating new jobs.

If you’re interested in seeing products come together from the basic idea to the finished package, factory work might be exactly what you’re looking for. ECPI University’s Advanced Manufacturing Academy offers a curriculum that could give you MSSC certification upon completion. You can also enroll in customized training in PLC’s, CNC machining, and other specialized manufacturing courses. Contact ECPI University today for more information.

I have been attending ECPI since August 2015, and could not be happier with the overall friendliness of the staff. They…

DISCLAIMER – ECPI University makes no claim, warranty, or guarantee as to actual employability or earning potential to current, past or future students or graduates of any educational program we offer. The ECPI University website is published for informational purposes only. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information contained on the ECPI.edu domain; however, no warranty of accuracy is made. No contractual rights, either expressed or implied, are created by its content.

Traditional college is becoming less of a necessity, thanks in part to certification programs. This is especially true for those interested in working in a technology field. Becoming certified is a great way to set yourself on a career path or get your foot in the door with an IT or networking job. The catch with these certification programs, however, is that you’re required to study for and take a test to earn your certification — and everybody knows how tough tests can be.

To become a Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP), you must first be a Cisco Certified Network Associate or Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert. If you qualify, you’ll be asked to take three exams — ROUTE, SWITCH, and SHOOT — which means plenty of studying.

What does a CCNP do?

A CCNP deals with the planning, implementation, verification, and troubleshooting of Cisco-based networks. After certification, a CCNP generally specializes in a particular area such as voice, security, or wireless.

A CCNP may land a job as a network engineer, network administrator, or Information Technology manager, just to name a few. For a network administrator, the median annual salary was $75,790 in 2014. In contrast, a computer network architect had a median annual salary of $98,430 per year in 2014. The key difference between the qualifications required for these jobs is the experience — a Network Architect generally requires at least five years of experience in the field.

The Career Path of a CCNP

The path to becoming a CCNP is one that requires knowledge, time, and experience.

To begin the path, you’ll have to take the ICND1 exam to become a Cisco Certified Entry Network Technician. This exam consists of 45-55 questions and costs $125 per attempt.

After this, you must take the ICND2 exam. It consists of 50-60 questions and costs $125 per attempt.

When you have both ICND1 and ICND2 completed, you’ll have to take the CCNA exam. This exam consists of 50-60 questions and costs $250 per attempt.

Once you’re a CCNA, you must take three exams:

642-902 ROUTE: This exam is often considered the most difficult of the three. It consists of 45-55 questions and costs $200 each time you wish to attempt it.

642-813 SWITCH: This exam covers your knowledge of switching. It also deals with securely integrating WLANs and VLANs. It consists of 35-45 questions and costs $200 each time you attempt it.

642-832 TSHOOT: This exam covers your ability to troubleshoot using a combination of routing and switching concepts. The idea of this exam is to ensure you’re using Cisco’s preferred process of troubleshooting. It consists of 35-40 questions and costs $200 per attempt.

Since the prerequisites for becoming a CCNP are so simple and the benefits so great, there’s no reason to avoid taking the test if you’re currently an experienced CCNA. The biggest selling point of becoming a CCNP vs. a CCNA is the availability of better jobs, which in turn means an increase in salary. In addition to this, a CCNP will likely find employment more easily than a CCNA or CCIE, due to the sheer number of jobs for which they qualify.

Exam Costs

One caveat to taking the exams and becoming a CCNP is the cost of the exams. In total, you will have to spend about $1,100 from no certification to CCNP. This is without considering the cost of training materials and potential retake fees for the certification exams.

With exams costing hundreds of dollars per attempt, it’s important that you make the most of each attempt. You should never rush into an exam prematurely in order to obtain certification more quickly. Instead, you should consider drawing from the wealth of resources for each exam. For starters, there are a handful of websites offering information and practice test materials. If these don’t suit your needs, Amazon offers a slew of books designed specifically to help people study for the CCNP exam.

Tackling the Test

If a career as a CCNP interests you but the thought of taking on all the exams seems overwhelming, our Cisco Network Academy could be just what you need. The program is comprised of four courses: Routing, Routing II, Switching, and Maintaining and Troubleshooting IP Networks. After completing the courses, there are three exams you can take at the ECPI University Professional Development Center to earn your CCNP certification.

DISCLAIMER – ECPI University makes no claim, warranty, or guarantee as to actual employability or earning potential to current, past or future students or graduates of any educational program we offer. The ECPI University website is published for informational purposes only. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information contained on the ECPI.edu domain; however, no warranty of accuracy is made. No contractual rights, either expressed or implied, are created by its content.

The Library of Congress has more than 162 million items. One little item is a helpful guide to bloodletting, based on the phases of the moon. Published in 1516, it follows an ancient tradition of relieving medical maladies by draining blood from the patient. Today doctors would not look favorably on tapping sick people, but doctors do require blood for analysis and diagnosis. The job of getting that blood falls to trained phlebotomists (from the Greek, phleps, meaning “vein;” tomia, meaning “cutting”) who carefully draw blood, keep precise records, and preserve blood specimens for use by other medical professionals. It can be a rewarding, worthwhile, and valued career.

Return on Investment

One way to select a new career path is to determine your costs to acquire all the skills and knowledge of the new vocation, and weigh that against the income the new job offers. Enrolling in a phlebotomy tech program is a streamlined process when you attend the right professional development center. Take a sixty-hour (ten-week) course and follow up with an externship of eighty hours, and you are ready to sit for your national examination.

Consider what economists call the “opportunity cost” of this path. Opportunity cost is what you have to give up to get whatever you want. Suppose you opt for a fast-food lunch alone. Your opportunity cost is the total monetary cost (food, gas, and time) of the lunch plus the inability (the additional “cost”) to instead have a picnic lunch with your child at the park.

The opportunity cost of becoming a phlebotomist is very minimal. Two, three-hour classes a week (at night) in a phlebotomy tech program barely interrupt your current work and leisure schedule, but they do prepare you for a new career path. When ready, you have no need to seek out the exam, either, if it is conveniently offered where you studied. Unlike, say, taking up a franchise operation, you have almost no up-front investment in specialized equipment or real estate. And unlike a full undergraduate program, the phlebotomy tech program is done (start to finish) in around three months. You give up the stresses and headaches of a job you may have but not want, and gain the power of pursuing a career (or even improving a career you’re in, like medical assisting!).

Seeing Green: Salary of a Phlebotomist

While most people associate blood with the color red, you may want to think of it as a way to see green, as in money. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), trained, skilled phlebotomists are respected members of the medical community and as such are paid for their talents:

The Industry is Seeing Rapid Growth

The BLS predicts job growth for phlebotomy technicians of 25 percent from now through 2024. Since you can acquire the skills to become a phlebotomist through a phlebotomy tech program in as little as three months, you could easily tap into this job growth and spend many years watching your income grow.

Seeing Red: Is Phlebotomy for You?

Admittedly, drawing blood is not for everyone. If you are squeamish, a phlebotomy tech program may not be an ideal fit. The work phlebotomists do is vital in every community, and requires a strong set of positive personality traits:

Compassionate and sociable—You need to put people at ease as you prepare to draw their blood; you also get to meet a wide range of people of all ages and outlooks

Good hand-eye coordination—Your keen eye and steady hands need to find the vein the first time, often under difficult conditions (squirming children, poor lighting, impatient patients)

Attention to detail—No matter how we look on the outside, we all share the same-looking blood, so phlebotomists must perform every step correctly, double-checking vials, entering data, knowing how many vials to collect

Dexterity—You work almost exclusively with your hands and use many types of equipment

With the right training and careful attention to coursework in a phlebotomy tech program, you can take and pass the national examination and be ready to work in many settings, such a medical centers, insurance agencies, doctors’ offices, medical laboratories and more.

Learn the Skills, Pass the Test, Become a Phlebotomist

Attend the phlebotomy tech program at ECPI University’s Professional Development Center and get ready to take the national examination. The Professional Development Center schedules classes with working adults in mind and knows your time is valuable. Get the skills you need to find your new direction as a phlebotomy technician. Contact ECPI University today!

DISCLAIMER – ECPI University makes no claim, warranty, or guarantee as to actual employability or earning potential to current, past or future students or graduates of any educational program we offer. The ECPI University website is published for informational purposes only. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information contained on the ECPI.edu domain; however, no warranty of accuracy is made. No contractual rights, either expressed or implied, are created by its content.

Each year, our world becomes ever-more dependent on data and our ability to transmit it. There are few aspects of modern life that electronics and information technology do not touch and shape – from business and finance, to social communication and entertainment, to government, military, and scientific exploration. In a very real sense, the fabric of our society is woven from fiber optic cable. The ability to design, install, maintain, and utilize this technology is essential to sustaining our technology-focused culture, both now and moving into the future.

Career Opportunities for Fiber Optic Technicians

Because the need for fiber optic data transmission is so pervasive, the career opportunities in fiber optics are diverse. Depending on their area of specialization and other training, a certified fiber optic technician may find employment as a line installer, working outdoors in manholes or atop utility poles, or performing installation and troubleshooting in customers’ homes and business locations. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), telecom line installation and repair workers earned a median annual wage of $54,450, as of May 2014. Line workers are also more likely than the average worker to be offered union membership.

The Fiber Optic Association (FOA), an international non-profit society for fiber optic industry professionals, also states that full-time workers in these positions receive generous benefits packages as part of their compensation. The industry also continues to need trained and certified individuals who can design fiber optic systems and local area networks, which would then be installed and maintained by other fiber optic industry workers.

The Benefits of Being Fiber Optics Certified

In almost all cases, certification by the Electronics Technicians Association (ETA) is a substantial advantage for those pursuing careers in fiber optics. The benefits of attaining certification are nearly as varied as the potential career paths in the field, and include:

Being recognized as the best. The ETA uses competency standards drawn from the international community for its certification exams, and maintains membership in the International Certification Accreditation Council. The ICAC audits its members’ programs on a five-year schedule to ensure that they have kept up with industry developments and continue to adhere to the highest standards. In addition, a feasibility study by the National Skills Standards Board determined that the ETA electronics certification programs ranked among the best available industry certifications. Employers who see an ETA fiber optic certification on your resume are likely to recognize it as a sign of quality training and competence in the field.

The opportunity for mastery. Each certification exam is reviewed on a yearly basis (at minimum) by a group of subject matter experts, educators, representatives of several national associations, and ETA staff members to ensure that the material contained in the exams is up to date and in compliance with current industry standards. Candidates who receive their certification can be confident that the knowledge they have demonstrated reflects the best understanding of their field that the industry has to offer.

A fair and objective assessment. The ETA works to keep their fiber optic certification programs free from bias, either toward any vendor or product, or against any demographic of certification candidate. The programs offered by ETA comply with anti-discrimination and civil rights standards.

What Are the Top Fiber Optics Certifications?

There are several distinct fiber optic certification programs available, enabling students to focus on the area of their particular interest and opening up the possibility for opportunities in specific segments of the fiber optic industry. Students can pursue certifications as a fiber optics installer (CFOI), technician (CFOT), or designer (CFOD). Each fiber optics certification course has a unique focus and requirements, preparing students for the aspect of the field best suited to their interests and career aspirations.

Fiber Optics Installer (ETA Certified)

In addition to providing a grounding in the basic components and theory of fiber optics principles, the major features of the technology, and industry terms, this fiber optic certification course trains students in the methods of building, splicing, and testing fiber optic cable systems.

Fiber Optics Technician (ETA Certified)

This fiber optic certification training program gives candidates a strong grounding in the skills and knowledge needed to understand how fiber optic networks function – and to recognize and identify problems when they’re not working correctly. Coursework includes certifying and troubleshooting model cable systems designed to include common problems.

Fiber Optics Designer (ETA Certified)

Students in this course learn all aspects of fiber optic network design, including industry communications standards and hardware selection. This is a newer program, arming students with extensive knowledge of fiber optic local area networks.

If the idea of working at the forefront of fiber optic communications technology and helping to sustain our data-driven world appeals to you, contact ECPI University and find out how to earn your ETA Fiber Optics certification.

DISCLAIMER – ECPI University makes no claim, warranty, or guarantee as to actual employability or earning potential to current, past or future students or graduates of any educational program we offer. The ECPI University website is published for informational purposes only. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information contained on the ECPI.edu domain; however, no warranty of accuracy is made. No contractual rights, either expressed or implied, are created by its content.

If you are a care or service provider of any type—maybe you work with children or the elderly, or your job is as a corrections officer or security guard, or perhaps you are someone who works in a school setting—you have probably experienced a wide variety of challenges that have left you wondering if you are in the right field. The truth is, any profession that calls you to work with the public has potential health risks; it’s always a good idea to be prepared to meet those risks head on and keep them from causing you or someone else harm.

Perhaps one of the riskiest aspects to working in a service-oriented job is the potential to pick up an infection or other illness that can come from exposure to blood or blood-tainted items. Here are some of the ways to prevent exposure to bloodborne pathogens, as explained by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA, a part of the US Department of Labor):

1. Learn about Bloodborne Pathogens

The first defense against becoming infected is to learn all that you can about bloodborne pathogens and why the improper handling of blood can be dangerous to your health. First, know that employers are required by law to provide each employee with proper equipment and education to ensure protection; if you don’t already know how your employer is abiding by the OSHA standard, ask until you get the answers you need. You also may consider taking a HeartSaver Bloodborne Pathogens course to receive clear instruction and certification on the best ways to keep yourself and others safe.

2. Be Equipped

When taking a HeartSaver Bloodborne Pathogens course, you will learn about Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Using the proper equipment can make all of the difference in prevention against bloodborne pathogens. Wearing gloves any time you’re encountering bodily fluids is the first line of defense against contracting these illnesses. Gloves should be worn not only when providing care and first aid but also when handling soiled clothing or changing bedding, when cleaning contaminated surfaces, and when removing trash that contains bodily fluids. Also, if possible, masks and goggles should be worn to protect your eyes, nose, and mouth from being contaminated by fluids that may splash on you, potentially entering your respiratory system and/or blood stream.

3. Keep It Clean

Just like you learned in grade school, washing your hands should never be an optional thing but instead a frequently repeated occurrence–especially when you are a person who has the potential for exposure to others’ bodily fluids. When taking a HeartSaver Bloodborne Pathogens course, you would learn that washing your hands (and any other contaminated skin) is essential; using soap, water, and a vigorous scrubbing method could be the difference between contracting a bloodborne illness and staying healthy and sickness free. According to the OSHA standard, employers are required to provide easily accessible hand washing stations for each employee; if you don’t know where these stations are in your workplace, ask a supervisor.

4. Trash Talk

Maybe it goes without saying, but how you dispose of the contaminated materials is just as important as using it properly. Before leaving the area you were working and using the PPE, be sure to remove all equipment (gloves, masks, etc.) and properly dispose of them. Your employer should provide an appropriately labeled storage area or containers to clean, decontaminate, or dispose of all used materials. Refer to the specific information detailed by your employer as well as the instruction learned in a HeartSaver Bloodborne Pathogens course.

5. Use Common Sense

Remember that all of the equipment, training, and instruction in the world will do you no good if you don’t put what you have learned to good use. Using common sense simply means take a moment to stop and assess the situation, determine the best course of action, and to use the provided materials to end any potential danger and provide necessary care. Take the HeartSaver Bloodborne Pathogens course to feel confident in your ability to handle the situation.

And remember the acronym PACT to help you stay clear-headed and make the best decisions possible:

Protect yourself from bloodborne pathogens; Act when exposed to blood or contaminated materials; Clean yourself and the affected area to eliminate the risk of infection; and Tell your employer anytime there is a situation of exposure in your workplace.

Get Bloodborne Pathogens Training

Knowing how to prevent exposure to bloodborne pathogens can make a critical difference in whether you find yourself protected or endangered by potential illnesses. If you are in a service-related job, or you just want to be prepared in the case of emergencies, consider taking a HeartSaver Bloodborne Pathogens course with ECPI University’s Professional Development Center.

DISCLAIMER – ECPI University makes no claim, warranty, or guarantee as to actual employability or earning potential to current, past or future students or graduates of any educational program we offer. The ECPI University website is published for informational purposes only. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information contained on the ECPI.edu domain; however, no warranty of accuracy is made. No contractual rights, either expressed or implied, are created by its content.